Linda Di Chamounix - The Royal Opera in Concert

Synopsis

Donizetti's opera, written in the semiseria genre, is a blend of melodramatic, romantic, sentimental and comic elements. It was first performed in Vienna in 1842 and includes one of Donizetti's most famous soprano arias 'O luce di quest' anima'. The plot revolves around a love affair complicated by class barrier and results in the heroine of the opera, Linda, succumbing to madness. However, all is resolved and the opera ends happily.

Our Review:

8 September 2009

Donizetti’s Linda di Chamounix, once at the forefront of his works, has all but disappeared from the lyric repertoire. At first glance this is not hard to understand – The tale of a virtuous maiden defending her honour against a libidinous old Marquis, her descent into pastoral madness (no bloodstained wedding dresses here!) and the almost perfunctory restoration of both her wits and fortune are hard for a modern audience to take seriously.

Add to this an apparent mismatch between the intentions of the librettist and composer. The Marquis is described in the blackest terms by the local Intendant who portrays him as first cousin to Don Juan or even Scarpia. Yet his music marks him out as belonging to the long line of essentially harmless old duffers such as Don Pasquale whose sexual ambitions are not matched by performance and one begins to understand the work’s decline.

However, the opera’s musical riches are diverse and unexpected. Much of the ...

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